A General Outline of Philadelphia DivorceWhen a marital relationship that was once filled with love comes to an end, it is stressful. Pressure builds as couples attempt to distribute their assets amongst one another and if children are involved, settle on a custody arrangement. Causing emotions to run high, this situation is best handled by consulting a Philadelphia divorce attorney. A lawyer can recommend the best course of action to make certain your Philadelphia divorce plays out effortlessly.
Your Options Under Pennsylvania Divorce Law
Depending on their characteristics, divorces can take different paths to resolution. But in Pennsylvania, at least one spouse must be a Pennsylvania resident for at least six months before a marriage can be legally dissolved under Pennsylvania law. Below, we outline your basic divorce options under current Pennsylvania divorce law.
1. A Fault Divorce
When one spouse is allegedly responsible for a marriage falling apart, their divorce is referred to as a fault divorce. Common reasons for this type of divorce include: infidelity, bigamy, as well as physical and mental abuse. Fault divorces conclude when the responsible party accepts the divorce, or when the actions that supposedly placed them in question, are successfully proven in court. For more details pertaining to the typical evidence for proving a fault divorce, contact a divorce attorney.
2. Divorce is No Fault
A divorce case won’t advance to court if it is a no fault divorce, which happens when one spouse doesn’t hold the other responsible for the break-up. In Pennsylvania, two kinds of no fault divorces exist: (the first) non-consensual no fault is when one spouse does not give the go ahead for the divorce and as a result, a two-year waiting period is enacted before the divorce can be finalized; (the second) consensual no fault divorce is when both spouses authorize the decision to divorce and because the decision is amicable, the waiting period is only 90-days before the divorce can be concluded.
3. Online Divorce
Pennsylvania allows couples to file for divorce online when their case meets the following three conditions: (1.) at least one spouse has held Pennsylvania residency for at least six months; (2.) No financial or property disputes are present; and (3.) both spouses will sign divorce papers, unless they have been separated for at least two years, in which case their marriage may be declared “irretrievably broken.”
Due to its significantly lower cost than other divorce options, the preferred method of divorce for most couples is online divorce. If a couple meets the aforementioned three conditions for filing an online divorce in Pennsylvania, they can expect for their divorce to cost roughly $500, an amount that removes the heavy financial burden of traditional divorce.
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